CHAPTER I. THE HAWK AND THE PIGEON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1872, 5 July 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER I. THE HAWK AND THE PIGEON.

A bbight May morning in London— the hour, noon. A time when the c vaot trailic, pouring along the great thoroughfares is at ita height ; when the bread-winners have already accomplished hali a day's toil ; while those more favored by fortune — the thoughtless butterflies with no sterner mission in life than its misuse—languidly prepare for another twelve hours of dissipation or ennui. Deadened by Venetian blinds, Japanese screens, and other ingenious contrivances for procuring stillness in the midst of the modern Babel, the sounds of the mighty beat of London's heart, came softly into a luxuriously famished chamber in the Albany— that quarter devoted to bachelors of the upper ten. It was noon, yet the apartment had evidently only recently been the sceneof a, festive party. The blinds were drawn; a solar lamp threw a soft light over the room, and a few coals in the grate gave out a feeble glimmer. On the table, cards, dice, champagne bottles, glasses, and otherconvivial appliances, -were grouped in confusion. A similar appearance of disorder characterised the whole apartment. Choice engravings— proofs before letters of Landseer, Clarkson, Slanfield, Ward, MilJais, and other distinguished artints, adorned the walls, interspersed wish danbs representing the chief pugilists, dameuses, racehorses, and similar celebrities of the day. Muddy riding boots, whips, foils, and boxing-gloves, formed a heap on a splendid ottoman, to the infinite damage of its covering ; while, from a college pewter, standing on the open piano, a beery strain had trickled, lending its tinge to the ivory keys. The sole tenant of the apaitraent was an individual whose attire proclaimed him one of those domestics facetiously styled " gentlemen's gentlemen." lie was a middle-aged man, with red hair, closely shaven face, and a most extraordinary frontal development. Mr. Guffles— Komeo Guffles he styled himself — was a character in his way. Entering life as a workhouse foundling, he had made his way through the successive grades of errandboy, page, and footman, to that of valet and confidential servant. For the rest, he was a thoroughly trustworthy, honest fellow, with an intense appreciation of the romantic, and a decided turn for melodramatic expression, born^ of frequent visits to the London transpontine theatres. The disorder of the apartment, which he was busily correcting, did not seem to strike Guffles as anything extraordinary. " The Pacha held a mighty feast last night," he muttered, while clearing the table. " ' Fill the bumper fair, every drop we sprinkle,' as -■the bard says. Methinks there was much sprinkling this time. Three bottles smashed and the divine essence scattered o'er the hungry earth— that is, the carpet ; two laige holes- burnt in the said carpet ; a carafe broken, and about half-a-bushel of partly burnt cigars. May good digestion wait on / appetite when the bills come in. 'Tis but a 1 sorry end, my lords, to this our revel. I wonder how the Pacha's head feels this morning ? Ah— he comes I " As he ?poke, an inner door was flung open, and a young gentleman, in a dressing gown and slippers, Stood in the doorway. " Hock and seltzer, Guflies, my good fellow," he said, leaning negligently against the open door. He was a tall, fair-haired young man, about one-and-twenty, of the pure Saxon type, and extremely handsome. Though so young, his frame was well-knit and muscular ; and he possessed that open, straightforward expres- - oion of countenance which, at the first glance, ' vrin&the approbation of a physiognomist. "What's the time, Guffles?" he asked, after swallowing the hissing beverage at a draught. "Past twelve," replied the valet, "breakfast as usual, I suppose, Mr. Frederick ? " Hra master nodded. " Some of my friends , will be here directly, I dare say, he said, walk- * |eg to the fireplace, and flinging himself r " into an arm chair. " Send round to Fortnum's ;- iora/ote gras, and set out some champagne." :jv./ While -his servant busied himself with the for breakfast, Frederick Falkland S fit a. cigar, and amused himself by turning I over and occasionally reading one from aheap ifpf letters on a salver. But he soon tired of go-h if:,; "Any this g in the papers, Guffles?" he P§aked, at length. PNB'-!," Very little, Mr. Frederick," replied his plgront. "They've caught Nana Sahib

again, in India : that makes about the twelfth [ time. And there's been another dreadful murder of a girl by her sweetheart— two columns of the Telegraph, sir, very interesting and blood- curdling— gives all the love letters, —quite a plot for the Surrey Theatre, sir. And —oh! I forgot, Mr. Frederick— there's tbe bettiug. Fitz Eoland is backed at six to four for the Derby, Toxopholite two to one, ami the bookmakers are offering ten to one against your horse." " Ten to one against Raleigh," exclaimed Falkland, starting up. " What's in the wind now, I wonder? Get me the Tunes, Gufrics, and then take a cab, go over to Bayswater, and 101 l Major Edmonds I want to ccc him, if he is not engaged. Left alone, Falkland anxioudly turned to that portion of the Times containing the sporting report from Tatteisall's, and read with great attention the following paiagraph :— " Notwithstanding that we are within a few days of the Derby, betting on the great race of the year is veiy languid. The chief features of interest have been the hardening in the market of Sir Joseph Hawley's F tz Eolaud (the Two Thousand victor) and the retrogression of Mr. Falkland's r;olt, Raleigh. The latter animal, after being heavily backed throughout the winter, was suddenly sent to the right-about yesterday, offers of ten to one meeting with no response from backers. Rumor has it that there is a fcrew loose somewhere, though the colt did good woik yesterday morning. Other quotations nominal." " A screw loose 1 " Falkland muttered ; "great heaven, if it should be so, I am a ruined man ! Would that it were over — t'lis suspense is maddening. Jf llileigh lo^es, I must leave the country. And nay poor father, how will he bear the knowledge that our ancient name has been disgraoed by a defaulter? A curse on my infatuation. If I could but live the past few months over again, I would " "Do nothing rash, I trust," said an individual who, entering quietly, had overheard Falkland's last words. " What's up, my boy, got a fit of the blues ? Ah — that's tne effects of last night. You should take a leaf out of my book, Falkland. A steady hand at ni^ht, gives a clear head in the morning." And without \\aiting for an invitation, the visitor drew his chair to the table, and commenced a vigorous attack on a StiasbourgjAife. " I'm glad you have come, Edmonds," said Falkland. " Did you meet my servant." Edmonds nodded. "I met Guflleg— queer card he is too— just getting into a cab in Piccadilly. Saved him the journey, as I was on my road to see you about that report in the papers." " You mean about Raleigh," exclaimed Falkland, eagerly. "Do you think there is any truth in it ? " " Oh, there's truth enough," said Edmonds, coolly, helping himself to a bumper of champagne. " You're a green hand on the turf, my boy, or you'd understand these things better. It's a dodge of the ring, you see. Some of the bookmakers havo overlaid their books against Raleigh, and they're trying on a knock-out to get round." Falkland looked puzzled. " Upon my word, Major, I don't understand you," he said. " How men who have laid too much money against my horse, can better their position by laying still longer odds against him, is rather puzzling to me." " Look here, Falkland," returned Edmonds, " I have been your turf mentor, and I'm bound to see you through. But for me you would never have gone in for racing. "Is not that so ? " There was a malieioub expression on hi 3 features as he asked the question. " That's true enough," replied the young man. "It was through making your acquaintance that I won two thousand last year by backing Blink Bonny ; and it was you who persuaded me to buy Raleigh with his engagements. And, acting on your advice, I havej backed himiheavily — far too heavily, indeed." Here he sighed deeply. " In fact Edmonds, if Raleigh loses, I am a ruined man." " Stuff 1 " said Edmonds. "He can't lose. We've tried him too highly for that. Run down to Leatherhead with me this afternoon ; old Knight is going to send him a gallop as a final test. The colt can't be got at — his trainer is too well-known for anyone to think that possible. Now, my boy, I'lr show you how the dodge Is worked : Half-a-dozen of the ring take liberties with a horse, on a spec of his going crooked, or something else in the docrine of chtfhces oceuring. But the day draws near, the horse is fit, and in hands that prevent any chance of nobbling him ; so they go down to Tattersall's, work into each other's hands, lay all sorts of prices against him— sham bets, you understand — and forthwith the news that the horso has gone amiss, and is knocked out, is wired all over the kingdom. Now, suppose a few genuine takers do book some of these bets, still the confederates are right ; for their commissioners at Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, all over the country, in fact, take the odds sure to be offered when the panic sets in. That's the way it's worked, my boy, and when the horse sees a short price again, as he is sure to do, the smarties have squared their books. It's an old dodge, but it's practised every year, for all that. It was done in the Oaks last year with Blink Bonny, and the year before with Ellington, and the year before that with Saucebox, and in '49 and '50 with the Dutchman and Voltigeur. 1 And bo it will Jje, you can easily sr>o, As long as the world goes iound,'," hummed the Major, in conclusion, refilling his glass. Falkland's spirits seemed to improve with this explanation. Pushing the cigar-box to his visitor, he said — " By the time you have got through a weed, I shall be ready. We can catch the two o'clock train to Leatherhead, and see how Raleigh performs." There was a sneering expression on Edmonds features as his host left the room. As the visitor sits, puffing at his cigar, and busily engaged in reflection, let us describe him. A tall, stout, red-faced man, dressed in a half -military frock coat; his attire generally a compromise between the man who has seen service and the habitue of Tattersall's. A man given to wearing a profusion of heavy jewellery and patent leather boots, loudvoiced and of self-assertive manner. A man who might be pleasant companion enough for the thoughtless young fellows with whom he associated, but whom it would have excited their unqualified surprise to meet in • their mothers' or sister's' drawing-rooms. Not that Major Eamonds ever sinned in the ambitious direction of desiring the entree to high class society. Like a knowing foxhunter, the Major " took his line of country and kept it." No one knew by what right Edmonds had acquired his military prefix. To those over- curious on the* subject he was wont to make some rambling statement concerning service with Sir Do Lacy Evans and the Spanish Legion, invariably followed by a sudden turn of the conversation ; but he was learned in all that pertained to sports. He could always procure for a friend first-class shooting; generally managed to be on the right side with a tip for the Derby, Leger, Grand National, and other great racing events ; and knew the mo^t accommodating and longest-winded money-lenders in town. In addition to this, he was always ready to lend" a few hundreds where the -want was pressing and the security satisfactory. Qualities like these soon ingratiated the Major

with the fast young men of the exclusive " set," and thus he had been introduced to Falkland, twelve months previously, as " a glorious card ; down to everything, and knows how to keep his place." But as he sat there waiting for Falkland, there was an expression on his face strangely at variance with hia usual off-hand, jovial manner. Hid cigar, held between hia lips, burnt into a long aeh and went out unheeded. His wine stood untouched before him; and he remained, his head leaning on his hand, d«3ep in thought— in a reverie only disturbed by the re appearance of Falkland. The latter had no time to make a remark, for Guides at the same moment entered with a letter. With an apology to Edmonds, of " My father's hand writing," Falkland opened and read the communication. The contents seemed to astonish him, for he carefully reperused it, and then, turning to Edmonds, said — "This makes confusion worse confounded. A letter from the governor, major. Theie is nothing vciy private in it, and I shall want your ad-vice, so you may as well read it." Edmonls* seized the document with curious eagerness, and his hands trembled as he lead the following : — " Falkland Court, " Devonshire, "My Dear Son,— l wish you to return home as soon as possible — in a few days if your engagements will permit. My health is growing lapidly worse, and I shall not die happy unless your marriage with your cousin Eose has taken place. I have spoken to the dear girl, and &he consents to be guided by my wish. You have now been nearly two years in London, and I should think have in that time seen the hollownosg of fast life which — in sending you to town with an ample allowance—l desired you to perceive in your young days Itiust that nothing will prevent your compliance with my request, which may be the last, for lam terribly broken. Eose joins with me in hoping that you will return to us the same affectionate light-heaited boy you left us." This was all, saving the signature, in tremulous characters, "Eustace Falkland." " What do you intend doing ? " asked Edmonds, as he handed back the letter. " There can be no question as to that," was Falkland's reply. "If all goP3 well, I can see the Dei by run on Wednesday, take the night express to Exeter the same evening, and ride over to the Court early on Thursday morning. Of course I shall comply with my father's wishes." " Marriage and all ? " aaked Edmonds, with the faintest tinge of a sneer in his voice. Falkland colored, as he replied firmly, " Marriage and all. You know so muoh of my affairs, Edmonds, that the remainder need be no secret. I have been engaged to my cousin aince childhood, and love her dearly. Her father, Sir Ealph, was terribly murdered, and my father, who succeeded him in the baronetcy and entailed estates, became her guardian. Yes, I will comply with his request, as soon as the Derby is over. I will leave my town affairs to you to arrange, old fellow. I know it will be a labor of love." Edmonds looked at the young man keenly as he said : " So you intend to become a country gentleman, marry your cousin, breed fat cattle, raise prize turnips, and give away sovereigns, and pair 3 of breeches at agricultural fairs 1 What a change, from the brilliant Freddy Falkland— the oracle of his club, and the pet of the Eow 1 " And the Major laughed, in a coarse, iorced style far from pleasant to hear. Falkland looked lather annoyed, but Edmonds continued : " Supposing — not that the thing ia more than barely possible— but supposing Ealeigh loses the race on Wednesday? How would that effect your vhtuous resolutions ?" Falkland shook his head and sighed deeply. "It would upset all — ruin me, as I have told you already," he said, after a pause. " But I .cannot, will not, dream of such a disaster. A' few days will decide my fate. Come, let us go, or we shall miss the Epsom train." Leaving the Albany, a fast handom was hailed, and the Major and his dupe reached London Bridge Station in ample time to catch the 2 p.m down train to Leatherhead.